Vets4Warriors: We’re With You All The Way
Our mission is to provide 24/7 confidential, stigma free peer support by veterans to Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve service members, Veterans, Retirees, and their families/caregivers. Share lived experiences to create an environment of trust that demonstrates you are never alone, there is a caring, emphatic voice ready to connect and follow up.
The National Guard Bureau announced the initiation of a new and confidential veteran peer support helpline for all Guard and Reserve service members on December 13, 2011. This began in part to recognize the difficulties of returning military into civilian life, the rising number of suicides in that population and a recent New Jersey soldier who took his own life while waiting for services. The death of Sgt. Coleman Bean got the attention and advocacy of the late N.J. Senator Frank Lautenberg and the action of Congressman Rush Holt. Their services help establish the program at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, a center of excellence for 18 years in peer support.
In August 2013 the program transitioned to the Department of Defense (DoD), DSPO (Department of Suicide Prevention Office). Here our major focus was on the active duty service men and women around the world. We worked closely with the VA’s Crisis Line and not only reached out to service members in crisis but also continued with peer support when accepted.
Vets4Warriors serves all Military, Veteran and Family Members. There are “no wrong doors”.